Enlightened Despotism - Napoleon

Enlightened despotism originated during the European Enlightenment, basically meaning that a ruler should rule with the characteristics of the Enlightenment. The most dominant of these characteristics was humanism, a trait evident in rulers such as Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. These rulers, along with Napoleon Bonaparte, all worked toward the betterment of society, at times using their absolute rule to enforce this system of improvement. Napoleon is the classic example of such a ruler and clearly throughout his rule, exhibits the characteristics of an enlightened despot because of the following reasons: his attempts to broaden religious peace, political centralization, and social reforms. Napoleon Bonaparte followed the typical enlightened despot attitude towards religion, and succeeded in promoting religious peace. Despite his incredible ability to conquer foreign lands, Napoleon recognized that there had been an increase in internal turmoil. This is most likely due to the division between the Church and the State, a division which began during the French Revolution. However, in an attempt to display his enlightened ways, he agreed to the Concordat of 1801, an agreement which recognized the Catholic Church as the favored religion in France. Although this was not established as the state religion, it created a system in which the Church became dependent on the State. Napoleon also granted religious freedom to the Jews and the Protestants, and they were able to practice their religions freely throughout France and the conquered lands. Napoleon can even be viewed as the most successful in this aspect of being a despot. Rulers such as Peter of Russia, who tried to establish this religious toleration, were not as successful as Napoleon. Peter could not exert full control over the religious issue in Russia, and could not ultimately control the religious tensions in his country. Thus, as an enlightened despot, Napoleon was able to successfully...

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...Assignment: 1
• Critically examine the main features of EnlightenedDespotism in 18th century Prussia.
The Enlightenment refers to an important cultural and intellectual movement of the 18th century, whose goal was to establish knowledge based on an enlightened rationality. Enlightened Absolutism or EnlightenedDespotism as it is more often called can be defined as a form of government strongly influenced by the wide propagation of ideas and the political philosophy of the Enlightenment. It is a term first used by the Philosophes in the second half of the 18th century that manifested to describe a particular phase in the development of absolutism. The term ‘Enlightened Despot’ refers to those 18th century monarchs who were familiar with the ideas of the Enlightenment and distinguished themselves from regular despots by the way they governed. The title of Enlightened Despot has been bestowed on many monarchs such as Frederick II of Prussia, Catherine II of Russia and Maria Theresa and Joseph II of Austria. Their policies vary in general because each enlightened despot took very different views of their position and thought of enlightened rule in very different terms. However, there are certain distinctive features, which mark the regimes of almost all enlightened despots. These include the implementation of...

...Enlighteneddespotism is when there is an absolute ruler, in some cases a tyrant, who follows the principles of the Enlightenment through reforms. Permitting religious toleration, allowing freedom of the press and speech, and expanding education are a few main guidelines to being and enlightened despot. Napoleon I is often referred to as one of the greatest enlightened despots. Although, he did not follow the ideas of the enlightenment entirely, he managed his country in a way that he maintained complete authority as well as many of the gains of the French Revolution. Yes, Napoleon did want to do a few things for himself, but he also ruled for the majority in most cases, promote government-funded education, and supported many other enlightened ideas. But, most importantly, Napoleon did what he thought would make his country stronger.
One of Napoleon's first areas of concern was in the strengthening of the French government. He created a strong centralized government and pretty muchEnlightened despotism is when there is an absolute ruler, in some cases a tyrant, who follows the principles of the Enlightenment through reforms. Permitting religious toleration, allowing freedom of the press and speech, and expanding education are a few main guidelines to being and enlightened despot. Napoleon I is often referred to as one of...

...Enlighteneddespotism is when there is an absolute ruler, in some cases a tyrant, who follows the principles of the Enlightenment through reforms. Permitting religious toleration, allowing freedom of the press and speech, and expanding education are a few main guidelines to being and enlightened despot. Napoleon I is often referred to as one of the greatest enlightened despots. Although, he did not follow the ideas of the enlightenment entirely, he managed his country in a way that he maintained complete authority as well as many of the gains of the French Revolution. Yes, Napoleon did want to do a few things for himself, but he also ruled for the majority in most cases, promote government-funded education, and supported many other enlightened ideas. But, most importantly, Napoleon did what he thought would make his country stronger.
One of Napoleon's first areas of concern was in the strengthening of the French government. He created a strong centralized government and pretty much got rid of the hundreds of localized law codes that had existed during under the control of the monarchy. He also created an army of government officials. He had the entire country linked under a rational administration. He also was able to get an easy supply of taxes and soldiers under his new and improved French government. Before he could get very far, however, he had to gain...

...﻿Napoleon's noble, moderately affluent background and family connections afforded him greater opportunities to study than were available to a typical Corsican of the time.[14] In January 1779, Napoleon was enrolled at a religious school in Autun, in mainland France, to learn French. In May he was admitted to a military academy at Brienne-le-Château.[15] He spoke with a marked Corsican accent and never learned to spell properly.[16] Napoleon was teased by other students for his accent and applied himself to reading.[17] An examiner observed that Napoleon "has always been distinguished for his application in mathematics. He is fairly well acquainted with history and geography... This boy would make an excellent sailor."[18][note 2]
On completion of his studies at Brienne in 1784, Napoleon was admitted to the elite École Militaire in Paris. This ended his naval ambition, which had led him to consider an application to the British Royal Navy.[20] He trained to become an artillery officer and, when his father's death reduced his income, was forced to complete the two-year course in one year.[21] He was the first Corsican to graduate from the École Militaire.[21] He had been tested by the famed scientist Pierre-Simon Laplace, whom Napoleon later appointed to the Senate.[22]
Wikipedia
Summary
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the Mediterranean island of Corsica on August 15, 1769. Although...

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With all the glory and the splendor that some countries may have experienced, never has history seen how only one man, Napoleon, brought up his country, France, from its most tormented status, to the very pinnacle of its height in just a few years time.
He was a military hero who won splendid land-based battles, which allowed him to dominate most of the European continent. He was a man with ambition, great self-control and calculation, a great strategist, a genius.
Certain individuals approved of Napoleon's reign as the savior of France. He finished and completed the Revolution by fulfilling the ideals the people of France demanded.. He gave them equality, freedom, justice, and many rights. Such things never existed during the reign of the monarchs before Napoleon stepped in.
The ideals of the revolution are best represented by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Napoleon preserved most of the rights that were gained and cemented them with his civil code, known as the Napoleonic Code. He destroyed the revolution by doing what was necessary to bring stability back to France, such as allowing the church to return to France, although it was put under state control. He also allowed emerges to return to France and set up a new nobility based on merit, these could be considered against the revolution. In truth the leaders of French Revolution tried to enforce a totalitarian communist like state. Not...

...Section 3: Napoleon Forges an Empire pp. 229-233
1. Explain why Napoleon was considered the hero of the hour.
2. Give an example of a Napoleonic military success and failure.
3. How did Napoleon’s coup d’etat affect power in France? (What type of leader did he become and how did he legitimize it?)
4. Why was Napoleon able to concentrate on domestic reforms in 1802?
5. How would you evaluate Napoleon’s reforms in the following areas?
What was the problem? How did he attempt to solve it? Evaluate his reform
Economy
Education
Law
6. Why do you think that the French people and the Pope supported Napoleon’s decision to make himself an emperor?
7. Give two (there are many more) examples of how Napoleon betrayed the goals of the Revolution in France and elsewhere.
8. Give three reasons why Napoleon agreed to the Louisiana Purchase.
9. Analyze the long and short-term significance of the Battle of Trafalgar.
10. A***Required of Honors Students Napoleon was a man of the Enlightenment. He believed in reason and felt that religion was at most a social convenience. Yet he moved away from the de-Christianization policy of the National Convention. Analyze Napoleon’s new church policy from the perspective of the French people, the Church and Napoleon.
Napoleon’s Empire Collapses pp. 234-237
11. What were two results of the Peninsular War?
12. Why...

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Napoleon. Symbol of an Age
Prior to the revolution the country of France was ruled by ruthless monarchs who stripped any glimpse of equality from the citizens of this nation. The oppressive rulers took away their freedom and abolished their beliefs and religions. Throughout all of this the economy was on a downward spiral leading to an almost inevitable economic crash. One man was able to step in, solve these issues, and transform France into one of the great nations it is today. Napoleon Bonaparte led France through the revolution and liberated this nation from the terrors the monarchs brought upon it, establishing himself as the founder of the Modern State.
There were three main ideals that started the French revolution. The people of France wanted liberty, equality, and fraternity. Throughout his reign Napoleon managed to accomplish these three ideals, and offer them to the people of France. Napoleon was able to give the people liberty when he wrote his Civil Code, known as the Napoleonic Code, and gave the Jews freedom. He offered the Jews synagogues to worship in, and liberated them from the ghettos. Napoleons main concern while doing this was to offer the Jews a place to openly practice their religion, for he knew that if he gave the Jew’s a place to worship, the population, and therefore economy of France would grow immensely. This is shown in Mathieu-Luis Mole’s Opening Discourse to the...

...﻿Napoleon I HEME pages 39-48 notes
The Concordat of 1801 and its significance
a. Organized religion can be controlled by lawmakers easily
b. This was imposed by the National Assembly’s “Civil Constitution of the Clergy”
c. However, organized religion is just the physical manifestation of belief, belief itself is very hard to control
d. Banning public worship and Catholicism didn’t stop the French from believing in the virtues of religion
e. This caused the people who believed in religion to be angry and those who really believed in it to hide from the gov’t
f. Alienated Catholics who had allied with goals of the Revolution, also created a point where enemies of the revolution could gather themselves to fight
g. The rebellion of Vendée was caused by the restrictions stemming from the “Civil Constitution of the Clergy”
h. Napoleon realized this, he was mixed with his feelings about religion, however he knew that the “CC of the C” had been causing a rift in France for no real reason
i. Around halfway through 1800 he realized that he was interested in negotiating wit the Church and the Pope
j. Nine months of negotiation between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII caused to “Concordat of 1801” which allowed the Church in France again
k. Under these terms
k.i. The lands confiscated previously would not be returned,
k.ii. clergy were appointed by the French gov’t & approved by pope, they were paid well
k.iii. Most French would...